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Duluth man admits murder of Floodwood woman

CARLTON, Minn. - An alleged member of the Native Mob admitted Tuesday that he murdered a Floodwood woman last fall.

Michael William Siewert, 23, of Duluth, pleaded guilty to intentional second-degree murder in the slaying of Cristyna Leah Watson, 25, and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Watson’s body was found Oct. 4 off Reservation Road outside Cloquet. Her death was ruled by a medical examiner to be the result of homicidal violence.

Siewert entered the plea before Judge Dale Wolf in State District Court in Carlton.

According to the criminal complaint, Cloquet police were investigating drug trafficking Oct. 2 when Alyssa Rae Peterson, Siewert’s girlfriend at the time, said she had information regarding Native Mob gang activity and serious crimes in connection with Watson’s disappearance and disposal of her body at 213 Reservation Road, where Clifford James Thompson lived. Thompson was charged with aiding an offender-accomplice after the fact.

With the help of cadaver dogs, Watson’s body was found at Thompson’s residence, where Siewert had been staying.

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